I've learned about art materials in the past from many different artists whose recommendations I valued. My philosophy is that it is good to share and we all have something to learn. You may learn something new from me.

Scroll down - and on this page you will find:

Details of the art materials and equipment that work for me and which I use

5mm Foam Core provides an excellent lightweight support when travelling. I usually have a piece cut to the size of the bottom of my suitcase. As a rigid support it means I don't need a heavy portfolio to protect paper while travelling.

For nearly 20 years I've used black hardback Daler Rowney sketchbooks and have them in different sizes. My favourite is the large A4 size which is excellent for large sketches. It contains a pale creamy white bond type paper. Each page is perforated near the binding making it very easy to either remove pages or to fold a page to enable easy sketching across a double page spread (making an image of approx. 11" x 18"). This paper is absolutely brilliant for use with coloured pencils. Warning: The paper really does not like water at all. Using even a limited amount of water with watercolour pencils generated wrinkles. Take a look at the effect on my sketch ofSydney Opera House when I used water on the reverse!

I started using a Moleskine sketchbook at the end of 2005 and find them very easy to carry around. There are three sizes - a small, medium (A5ish) and large (A4) and very large (A3). I have all of them but prefer to use the medium and large version. The main advantages for me are:

the sketchbook has a hard back but lies flat very easily. Working over a double page spread is not a problem.

This gives an image 8" x 10" when using the medium and 11" x 17" when using the large sketchbook

The heavy weight paper in the Moleskine sketchbook is ideal for coloured pencil

the folder on the inside back cover is great for saving tickets and other records of my travels

Watercolourists should not that this sketchbook does not like watercolour - and that there is a separate watercolour sketchbook available (pink wrapper).

I mainly use three different pens (see below) for pen and ink drawings. Pen and ink work is executed

either in sketchbooks (see above)

or on very smooth drawing paper eg Bristol

See Pen and Ink - Resources for Artists for information and advice from various websites for artists using pen and ink. Topics covered include information about pen and ink brands and associated products and tips and techniques for working with pen and ink.

The Pilot G-TEC-C4gel ink rollerball in either black or brown (sepia) ink is my pen of choice as it has a 0.4mm point which produces a beautiful 0.2mm fine line. In addition the ink never ever gets messy on the page. It's brilliant for sketching in a sketchbook with coloured pencils (but is not water resistant so don't use with watercolour! See instead the Edding pen below). You can read more about this wonderful pen here. It's difficult to find and I buy masses of them every time I come across them. See Cult Pens below if you want to order a supply.

Early pen and ink drawings were done using a Rotring Art Pen with an EF (extra fine) nib with Rotring Drawing Inks(black and sepia). It's a very nicely balanced pen which uses ink cartridges (various colours) but it can be converted. There is a choice of five calligraphy nibs as well as fine and extra fine sketching nibs. I often turn mine over and use the nib the wrong way up to get very fine lines.

Read more about it in my very popular blog post Rotring Art Pen. I understand that these pens may not be produced anymore. My blog post represents my attempt to create demand for a pen which is much loved pen by me and other artists. The post contains links to suppliers and more technical details

I'm experimenting with the Edding e-1800 Profipen. This is a high-tech fibrepen with metal-framed round tip. It comes in 4 stroke widths and uses water-resistant, lightfast pigment ink, colours 001-004. This one you can use with watercolour

I absolutely LOVE my Jakar battery powered eraser pen. Read more about this particular eraser in this post on my blog 'Making a Mark'. Also read about my technique for drawing using this eraser and see pictures developed as a result here and here.

Blu Tack is very effective at removing coloured pencil marks from paper. It is a reusable adhesive which can be molded to different shapes - such as cylinder shapes (for rolling) or 'spikes' for dabbing at very small areas. This is not a material suitable for fast and easy erasure of large areas but works well at removing marks from smaller areas.Blu Tack is readily available in the UK (but not in the USA).

This is my favourite handheld sharpener and is great for sketching. It is made of brass, is well designed, easy to hold and its weight means that it doesn't get lost easily. It has two holes for different sized pencils (hence it can sharpen the Derwent Pencils) Replaceable blades mean that it can be used over the long term. The compact size also means it fits easily into pencil cases. Speaking personally, I carry this very effective sharpener around with me all the time in my purse. Read my Product Review - Round Solid Brass Double-Hole Pencil Sharpener

This is an excellent manual pencil sharpener for those who like their pencil leads to have a long point. I recommend it for occasional use eg when sketching. It's made by KUM - a manufacturer with lot of experience in the manufacture of manual pencil sharpeners. Read my Product Review: KUM Automatic Long Point Pencil Sharpener

MyJakar 5151 mains powered electric pencil sharpener is my heavy duty / use all the time indoors sharpener. It's suitable for graphite and good qualitycoloured pencils up to 8mm thick. It has a couple of safety features.

It won't work if the shavings receptacle is removed

it also has a safety cut-out which prevents over-use when sharpening lots of pencils one after another.

Tips: If it ever stops producing nice pointy pencils the chances are you need to empty the shavings receptacle! Feeding it a soft graphite stick (all graphite/no wood) for lubrication once in a while keeps it happy. If all else fails it's possible to purchase a replacement spiral cutting tool.Read more about it in my Product review: Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener

It used to go with me on all my travels - and usually attracted an audience - however it has recently died (probably due to overuse!) and I need to get a replacement! A battery powered sharpener which looks almost identical to this was available in Staples stores in the USA but apparently can no longer be obtained

The waste products of erasure and sharpening coloured pencils need to be removed to avoid spoiling a paper. I use a Drafting Brush (sometimes called a Drafting Broom) to clean paper when using coloured pencils. A 2" paint brush of decent quality is a good substitute (and is easier to keep me in my tubs of pencils). Wiping a freshly sharpened pencil through a brush after sharpening removes all small shavings.

There are various aids which can make drawing 'en plein air' or otherwise a little bit easier

Derwent Pencil Wrap

I have a number of Derwent Pencil Wraps which are invaluable when travelling - you can see them in the picture near the top. The wraps are made from tough canvas and have leather look trim and a secure closure. This means it lies flat when in use and rolls up for travelling (and is also very light). Inside it has individual compartments to hold and protect up to 30 standard-size pencils.

As recommended to me by Sally Strand. This provides a very good basis for both identifying a crop of an image and assessing the correct strength of the values that can be seen. Read more about it in my blog post here. This contains a link to the website of the chap who makes them.

Viewfinder - rule of thirds

This viewfinder is by Teaching Art Ltd - but they don't seem to make it anymore. It's used much less since the advent of the digital camera and large viewfinder but this still comes out with me on plein air trips. The viewfinder includes a clear plastic window (which doesn't scratch) which is 2.5 inches wide and 1.75 inches high (which gives is a 10:8 ratio). It's also clearly marked with lines for the 'rule of thirds' to help with compositions and finding the 'sweet spots'. It's possible to create and print one out using good quality perspex.

Viewfinder - for scale

Some people measure with their pencils - and while that's great for simple scenes, I find this viewfinder with a grid very helpful for any scenes which might have a a complicated structure - particularly buildings. It helps me to check which lines are really vertical and which ones have got a distinct lean.

My Phillips Folding Chair has a lightweight metal frame and strong canvas seat and back. The folding mechanism is very easy to work. It is excellent for travelling. I've had two travelling around the UK and the world sketching and painting in the last 20 years or so. I only had to get the second as the first went AWOL after it was left behind on a luggage trolley by mistake at the end of a 26 hour flight! Warning!

They are very difficult to get hold of. Click the image of me sat on my first chair next to Lake Bedugal in Bali to find the only place I know which sells them.

The chair always has to go in the hold of the aircraft and very often has to go to a separate desk to be checked in at airports. It's adviseable to allow a little extra time for drop-off and pick-up.

Get a very strong bungee cord to hold it together while travelling

Always label the chair very clearly with its own luggage label when travelling. My latest chair has now done more miles than I have. I've never had a problem in the Far East - but in the USA it tends to take a diversion to other destinations and only arrives at my intended destination about 24 hours after I do. I think the tubular metal frame (which is extremely robust) is what causes the problem and raises suspicions amongst airport security staff.

Cult Pens- supply Pilot G-TEC-C4 drawing pens and a wide range of other pens and pencils for drawing as well as writing. A very helpful company who know even more than you can read about on their very helpful ebsite

Links to suppliers - USA

San Clemente Art Supply Store, San Clemente, California. I used this store during a pastel workshop in California (see my blog post about this). This store had virtually everything I would ever want to buy plus extremely friendly and helpful staff! If you ever visit say hello to Patti from me!

Dick Blick in San Diego, CaliforniaAnother very impressive art store - I wish the ones at home were more like this.